I'd say the builders' feet are the problem. It'll be compacted. I had the same problem here. I'd deliberately created the lawn to mitigate our rainfall - loads of gravel, and a raised lawn, so that drainage was good. After getting an extension done, and following a drier summer, it was needing a bit of attention, but wasn't too bad. I then had another spell of builders in during that winter, and they were going back and forth across it, and it got compacted again. That was also a slightly drier summer, and it was starting to show the effects of that [I would never water grass here] We then had a more normal summer the following year, with plenty of rain, and it didn't look too bad so I left it. I was planning to renovate it properly, then the pandemic hit, so I couldn't. On a whim, I took it all out last spring, and built a bigger pond and gravelled it all
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I typed an answer on my phone earlier as OH had the computer and my post has disappeared, happens with the phone.
I would not scarify a new lawn, it will probably have pulled out some of the young grass. I think, assuming it was turfed, that the turves were not the same quality as the ones you had before that the builders spoilt. Also the weather wasn't very sunny last summer.
I would avoid walking on it as much as possible then in the spring mix up some grass seed with compost and scatter that. Give it a chance to grow.
Don't put down paving stones at this time of year or when the ground is very wet, you will only compact it more and spoil the grass. The grass won't grow at the moment anyway, needs to be over 13C to grow.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
@Chris-P-Bacon you’ve definitely got a point! I have a problem indeed. I think that the grass was trying to establish in a particular type wet, cold and sunshine free spring and summer, which made it weak too. It rained almost every week and due to the lack of sunshine, barely ever fully dried out. The pH of the soil is about neutral really, last time I tested, and all the soil is new on the lawn, as it was laid fresh, with lawn sand underneath too. What we noticed from late summer was how many worm casts were popping up all over it. I was under the impression that worm casts equal good drainage, as the worms are present!
Is this not the case? When there are so many casts though, it’s hard to not tread them into the lawn when walking over it…sigh…and we have to walk over it sometimes to get to the garden room at the other end of the garden.
Any point re seeding?
Worm casts are definately a good sign. Probably a little compacted as others have suggested so maybe aerate it with a fork in early spring to ease the compaction a little and then reseed. With a bit of sun & regular watering it'll be fine.
Thanks all, yes I think we shall try forking out the worst bits and re seeding in soring, possibly replacing the really bad bits with some turf, for speed reasons,
@Fairygirl the gardener who laid it for us totally renewed the soil underneath and turned it over, making sure it wasn’t compacted because it had been very uneven and needed it.
Glad to hear that worm casts are a good sign! I thought so, but they’re also a pain when we have to avoid stepping on them…
I think we shall attempt to salvage what we have, one last time, before resorting to stones…
We had a stepping stone alley down the side of the house put in by previous residents. They laid the stones too far apart for a 5' 3" gardener so I had to leap if I went out in winter in my slippers (as you do!). The side gate is the main way from front to back so us and the dogs have all slipped in the mud in winter (then brought it in the house!). Also factor in dragging wheelie bins over it! I did the fork pricking, sharp sand, heavy traffic lawn seed thing for a few years then gave up and recently had it paved. Not nearly as romantic but so much more practical. The stepping stones are being recycled around the place. Here is where two of 'em went and you get a hint as to my current gardening project! 😁
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I had the same problem here. I'd deliberately created the lawn to mitigate our rainfall - loads of gravel, and a raised lawn, so that drainage was good. After getting an extension done, and following a drier summer, it was needing a bit of attention, but wasn't too bad. I then had another spell of builders in during that winter, and they were going back and forth across it, and it got compacted again. That was also a slightly drier summer, and it was starting to show the effects of that [I would never water grass here] We then had a more normal summer the following year, with plenty of rain, and it didn't look too bad so I left it. I was planning to renovate it properly, then the pandemic hit, so I couldn't.
On a whim, I took it all out last spring, and built a bigger pond and gravelled it all
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I would not scarify a new lawn, it will probably have pulled out some of the young grass. I think, assuming it was turfed, that the turves were not the same quality as the ones you had before that the builders spoilt. Also the weather wasn't very sunny last summer.
I would avoid walking on it as much as possible then in the spring mix up some grass seed with compost and scatter that. Give it a chance to grow.
Don't put down paving stones at this time of year or when the ground is very wet, you will only compact it more and spoil the grass. The grass won't grow at the moment anyway, needs to be over 13C to grow.
Probably a little compacted as others have suggested so maybe aerate it with a fork in early spring to ease the compaction a little and then reseed. With a bit of sun & regular watering it'll be fine.
@Fairygirl the gardener who laid it for us totally renewed the soil underneath and turned it over, making sure it wasn’t compacted because it had been very uneven and needed it.
I think we shall attempt to salvage what we have, one last time, before resorting to stones…
The stepping stones are being recycled around the place. Here is where two of 'em went and you get a hint as to my current gardening project! 😁